“The World Pushed Against You”: How a Stuttering DJ Found His Voice Through Electronic Music

There's a certain irony in the fact that one of electronic music's most compelling new voices built his career around the challenge of using his actual voice.

In his new documentary, The World Pushed Against You, Shrimpnose reveals how electronic music became his truest form of expression in a world that all too often demands verbal fluency. The DJ and producer, whose whose real name is Riley Smithson, has navigated a stutter since the age of five.

About 1% of the world's adults live with a stutter, the cause of which remains unknown—and it's a vicious plight. Bullying, depression and self-esteem issues are nearly universal in young stutterers, who worry each time they open their mouths to speak and hinge on every syllable.

The documentary, which takes its name from his latest studio album, weaves together performance footage—including a breakthrough set at Shambhala Music Festival—with intimate glimpses into his creative sanctuary.

"Music for me has always been the thing that makes me feel most connected to the world," Smithson says. "I think part of it is that music has always felt like the easiest language that I can express myself in... I have a pretty bad stutter that comes out sometimes."

"Verbally expressing myself has always kind of been an obstacle. I found that music was a way I could communicate without any blocks. I was just completely fluent."

The paradox at the heart of Smithson's new documentary isn't lost on anyone: a musician whose stutter led him to create fluid, eloquent electronic music. His atmospheric productions, characterized by textured ambient beats and hypnotic vocal elements, take on deeper meaning when viewed through the lens of his personal journey.

The documentary's title, The World Pushed Against You, perfectly encapsulates the tension between personal struggle and artistic redemption. But rather than dwelling in difficulty, Shrimpnose's story celebrates the discovery of one's authentic voice, even when it manifests in unexpected forms.

His journey from a child grappling with verbal expression to an artist commanding festival stages demonstrates how limitations can become catalysts for unique creative perspectives. In both his music and this documentary, Smithson reminds us that fluency comes in many forms, and sometimes our greatest obstacles lead us to our most powerful means of connection.

You can watch The World Pushed Against You on YouTube below.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=_moOD1J5uic[/embed]

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